NDPC leads national review of SDG progress ahead of global forum

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Implementation Coordination Committee assembled on Wednesday to review progress made in the implementation of the SDGs and identify critical gaps affecting national efforts.

The meeting focused on assessing the current status of the Committee’s work plan, with particular emphasis on the availability and quality of data required for effective monitoring and reporting.

The committee members stressed that resolving these data challenges was crucial as Ghana prepares to participate in next year’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, the United Nations’ principal platform for reviewing global progress on the SDGs.

As part of the deliberations, two Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly and Ga West Municipal Assembly, presented experiences from the preparation of their Voluntary Local Review (VLR) reports.

Representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) also updated the Committee on their contributions to Ghana’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) process, reflecting what officials described as a coordinated national approach to strengthening SDG implementation.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director in charge of the Development Policy Division at the NDPC, Madam Alice Amekudzi, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting all stakeholders involved in the process.

She noted that recommendations and inputs from the meeting would be carefully considered and incorporated into ongoing policy and implementation efforts.

The Commission further expressed optimism about increasing MMDA participation in Voluntary Local Reviews, describing local-level engagement as essential to building a strong and inclusive national review process.

The meeting ended with a renewed call for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, particularly in addressing data gaps, to ensure Ghana remains on course to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.